Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropic organisation has named four US cities to receive up to $1m to fund temporary public art projects.
Bloomberg Philanthropies first Public Art Challenge Grant asked cities with a population of more than 30,000 to submit proposals for projects that involve artists, arts organisations and the local government while also addressing civic issues.
The winners include: Gary, Indiana where the artist Theaster Gates will help create ArtHouse: A Social Kitchen, a once vacant building that locals will be able to go to for culinary training and cultural programming. The city of Los Angeles, California will kick-off its first Public Art Biennial with Current: LA River which will include 15 multi-media works that emphasise water conservation in the middle of one of the worst droughts in the state’s history.
Spartanburg, South Carolina is collaborating with artist Erwin Redl make temporary LED installations that will create safer spaces and adress crime in the city, and a joint project between the upstate New York cities Albany, Schenectady and Troy, will utilise light installations in vacant homes to highlight the need for community revitalisation.
